Warriors of the Rainbow

According to Cree legend, “Leaders will be those whose actions speak the loudest, the ones that have demonstrated wisdom and courage and have proven that they work for the benefit of all.”Named after the First Nations’ legend of the leaders who will come to restore the health of the Earth, the Clandonald School Warriors of the Rainbow have been recycling paper and beverage containers, helping with the community clean-up and enhancing our environment for the last thirteen years. Two years ago, they added composting, gardening and making bluebird houses to their activities. Last year, they planted shrubs and apple trees, provided indoor plants to every classroom to improve air quality, and worked with their seniors’ club to learn various handicrafts, most using scrap materials. Last spring, they added two more raised garden beds to grow carrots for healthy snacks, and their rain barrels helped with watering. They potted and sold spider plant babies, and started flowers for decorative pots. They used scrap materials to make sellable Christmas crafts, installed bird feeders on the playground, and a butterfly garden. The Grade 4 Social Studies class has made 30-second commercials about proper disposal of household hazardous waste.